Mowi to relocate inshore sites in growth plan

Mowi Scotland will close two of its inshore sites in exchange for greater biomass at high energy locations. Loch Ewe and Loch Duich are two sites the company, Scotland’s biggest salmon farmer, has identified as suitable for relocation. The farms are situated in enclosed sea lochs, near sensitive wild salmonid habitats, said Mowi in a…

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Date set for Holyrood salmon debate

THE Scottish parliament is to debate the recent Holyrood committee report on salmon farming next Wednesday afternoon. A period between 2pm and 5.15pm has been set aside for the discussion. The report was published last November by the Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) committee, which launched its inquiry into the salmon sector earlier in 2018.…

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MSPs meet to consider salmon inquiry report

A DRAFT report on the future of salmon farming in Scotland will be presented to members of Holyrood’s Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) committee in Edinburgh tomorrow morning. The committee took evidence from fish farmers, environmental groups, scientists, government regulators and other stakeholders in a series of six sessions, held at the Scottish parliament earlier…

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‘Momentous’ fish health plan will grow industry

THE Scottish government is to work in tandem with the country’s fish farmers to address health challenges and help the industry grow sustainably, rural affairs minister Fergus Ewing announced this morning. As he opened the Aquaculture UK exhibition in Aviemore, he unveiled a ‘momentous’ ten-year Farmed Fish Health Framework, that aims to not only enable…

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Salmon farmers separate fact from fiction

SCOTLAND’S salmon farmers have produced a booklet of facts about their industry, aimed at addressing misperceptions and correcting often inaccurate coverage in the press. The publication, ‘Reported Versus Reality: A Pocket Guide to Scottish Salmon Farming’, has been sent to MSPs, Scottish MPs and local councillors, as well as to other stakeholders, including regulators, environmental…

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Grieg lice numbers down nearly 90%

SHETLAND based Grieg Seafood has recorded a drop of nearly 90 per cent in numbers of adult female sea lice over the last year, the Shetland News reported. Managing director Grant Cumming said a variety of factors, including new farming methods and colder sea temperatures, had helped to cut numbers of the parasite. Grieg Seafood…

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Minister to open Aquaculture UK

RURAL economy minister Fergus Ewing is to open the UK’s biggest aquaculture show later this month, it was announced this morning. The minister, a staunch supporter of the industry in Scotland, will be in Aviemore on May 23 to welcome more than 160 companies exhibiting, and what are expected to be record numbers of visitors.…

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Scottish salmon standards ‘very high’, MSPs told

By Vince McDonagh A STRONG defence of Scotland’s record on the regulation of its aquaculture industry was put up by the team giving evidence at the Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) committee at Holyrood yesterday. The committee, which is investigating the salmon farming sector, was told by the convenor, Highlands and Islands MPS Edward Mountain (Con),…

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Salmon farming ‘here to stay'

SALMON farming has transformed the rural communities of the west Highlands and islands with jobs, investment and business opportunities, said the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation. Responding to a weekend press report headlined ‘Is salmon farming doing more harm than good for Scotland?’, the SSPO’s chief executive, Scott Landsburgh, said that despite being only around 40…

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